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Urgent and bold action needed to address accelerating threat of antibiotic resistant ‘super bugs’

  • An estimated 100 Australians die every week from a superbug infection1

  • Common resistant infections, such as pneumonia, are expected to become more deadly than cancer by 2050 without urgent action2

  • Experts are calling for a local ‘subscription model’—as adopted by UK Government—to incentivise R&D and bring novel antimicrobials to the community3 

Leading infectious disease experts are calling for urgent and decisive action in Australia to address the rapidly advancing health threat of antibiotic resistant ‘superbugs’.1

A Global AMR Summit* in Sydney (18–20 February) will hear that an estimated 100 Australians die every week from a superbug infection1, with newborn babies and the critically ill at significant risk.4,5 These resistant infections are expected to cause more deaths than cancer by 2050 unless urgent action is taken. 2

Priority measures for Australia include the implementation of a Subscription Model, recommended in the Government’s Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Review, providing a cost-effective way to incentivise the development and availability of novel 
antimicrobials able to tackle AMR infections. 3

Latest data demonstrates these infections cost the Australian economy $700 million annually in hospitalisations6, with the total economic cost projected to reach $142–$283 billion by 2050 if new solutions are not made available.7 

Under the proposed Subscription Model, the Government would pay a fixed amount at regular intervals to access new and innovative antibiotic agents across the healthcare system, regardless of how much they are used.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, the UK’s Special Envoy on AMR, who is attending the Summit, says: “Innovation and the development of novel antibiotics are essential in tackling antimicrobial resistance. 

“We urgently need to fix the global pipeline for new medicines to tackle diseases. The UK’s antimicrobial subscription—or ‘Netflix-style’—model is an innovative approach that pays for antibiotics based on their value rather than their volume so they can be used in the best way possible and encouraging continued investments in developing the new treatments we critically rely on.” 

The UK subscription program has ensured two new antibiotics are now available for patients.8

Australian healthcare professionals have very limited access to novel antimicrobials. Of the latest 25 novel antimicrobials available in the US and Europe since 2011, only three are registered for use in Australia9

The World Health Organisation (WHO) now ranks AMR as one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity and it states the global research and development pipeline of new antimicrobials is inadequate—largely due to limited investment incentives to develop novel agents.10

Common infections—including pneumonia, STDs like gonorrhoea and urinary tract infections—are becoming increasingly difficult to cure with standard antibiotics.11

AMR also jeopardises use of regular medical procedures—including surgeries, organ transplants, and chemotherapy which rely on the use of effective antibiotics.12 

Australian healthcare professionals fighting these powerful infections face a significant challenge—with new data showing 500 applications are made by clinicians every month to access antibiotics that are not registered in Australia.9 One quarter (27%) of the applications are for critically ill patients.9 


A/Prof Phoebe Williams, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney says: “Ten years ago, it was rare to encounter a multidrug resistant infection in a newborn or child. Now, we are seeing cases frequently in Australia, and at alarming rates in our neighbouring Southeast Asia region. Research shows many antibiotics used to treat common childhood infections are ineffective in countries with a high burden of antibiotic resistance.  These odds are unacceptable, and result in hundreds of unnecessary child deaths every day.”  

“Currently, the newest antibiotics are "reserved" for last-resort cases to protect their effectiveness. This means they are infrequently used and industry is unable to recover the substantial research and development costs required to make them available for the patients that need them,” says Andrew Bowskill, Co-chair of the Australian Antimicrobial Resistance Network. 

GSK is committed to playing a significant role addressing AMR globally and is an industry supporter of the Global Summit.

David Payne, GSK Vice President and Head of Infectious Diseases Research, says: “Antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat demanding a determined, collaborative response. At GSK, we’re building on our 70-year legacy of innovating in infectious disease, turning science and technology into medicines and vaccines to get ahead of AMR. 

Our portfolio is already helping to prevent and treat resistant infections, and we have a promising pipeline of relevant assets in development, many targeting pathogens identified as priorities by WHO and US CDC. We’re also driving collective action, across 
industry, academia and policy, including through our partnership with the Fleming Initiative, to advance research and build an environment where innovation to address AMR can thrive.”

*More on the AMR Summit The ‘Securing a future where antimicrobials still save lives’ Summit (18-20 February 2026) is being hosted by the CSIRO, and Fleming Initiative. It will bring together diverse disciplines and geographies, including researchers, government, industry stakeholders and funders to help solve this international health crisis.  

GSK is a proud supporter of the AMR Global Summit and is sponsoring an expert panel with Dame Sally Davies.  

Find out more at: https://www.csiro.au/en/about/challenges-missions/antimicrobial-resistance/amr-summit  

Media contacts: 
• Cube: Anne-Marie Sparrow | Anne-Marie@cube.com.au | +61 417 421 560 
• GSK: Emma Power | emma.k.power@gsk.com | +61 419149525 

 


What is AMR? 
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites become resistant and do not respond to antimicrobial agents like antibiotics. As a result, certain infections become more severe, last longer, and are more likely to result in death or permanent disability.

In addition, the safety of modern medical advancements, including surgeries and chemotherapy, are jeopardized as these procedures rely on effective antibiotics to prevent post-operative infections.

 

About GSK  
GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at: https://au.gsk.com/en-au/  

GSK’s position on antimicrobial resistance 
GSK recognises AMR as a major global public health challenge and works collaboratively across sectors, including with partners such as CSIRO and through programs such as the Fleming Initiative, to support innovation, surveillance, stewardship and preparedness.  

With more than 70 years’ experience in infectious diseases, and as one of a small number of companies continuing to invest in antimicrobial innovation, GSK has a broad AMR pipeline with more than 30 research and development projects, including programs targeting pathogens deemed ‘critical’ or ‘urgent’ by the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Find out more at: https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/company/policy-positions/?item=antimicrobial-resistance  

 

Additional information 
In relation to this GSK media activity no honorarium was provided to Dame Professor Sally Davies, the UK’s Special Envoy on AMR, A/Prof Phoebe Williams, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney or Andrew Bowskill, Co-chair of the Australian Antimicrobial Resistance Network.

 

References: 

  1. Australian Antimicrobial Resistance Network (AAMRNet). Fighting superbugs: a path forward (2024). Available at: 
    https://wpstaq-ap-southeast-2-media.s3.amazonaws.com/mtpconnect-national/wp-content/uploads/media/2025/02/Fighting-Superbugs-A-Path-Forward-Dec24.pdf. Last accessed: February 2026.
  2. Review on Antimicrobial Resistance (O’Neill Review). Tackling a crisis for the health and wealth of nations. 
    Available at: https://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/AMR%20Review%20Paper%20-%20Tackling%20a%20crisis%20for%20the%20health%20and%20wealth%20of%20nations_1.pdf. Last 
    accessed: February 2026.  
  3. Australian Government Department of Health. Health Technology Assessment Policy and Methods Review – 
    Final Report. Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-09/health-technology-assessment-policy-and-methods-review-final-report_0.pdf. Last accessed: February 2026.
  4. The University of Sydney. 'Alarming' rise in newborn babies with antibiotic-resistant infections, researchers find. 
    Available at:https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2025/09/29/alarming-rise-in-newborn-babies-with-antibiotic-resistant-infections-researchers-find.html. Last accessed: February 2026.
  5. Vidal-Cortés P, Suberviola-Cañas B, Andaluz-Ojeda D. Antimicrobial Resistance and Therapy in the Intensive 
    Care Unit. Antibiotics. 2025; 14(9):904. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14090904
  6. Center for Global Development. Forecasting the Fallout from AMR: Economic Impacts of Antimicrobial 
    Resistance in Humans. Available at:https://www.cgdev.org/media/forecasting-fallout-amr-economic-impacts-antimicrobial-resistance-humans. Last accessed: February 2026.
  7. Australian Medical Association. Antimicrobial resistance: the silent pandemic. Available at: 
    https://www.ama.com.au/sites/default/files/2025-11/Antimicrobial_resistance_the_silent_global_pandemic.pdf. Last accessed: February 2026.
  8. NICE. A new model for evaluating and purchasing antimicrobials in the UK. Available at: 
    https://www.nice.org.uk/what-nice-does/life-sciences-how-to-get-your-product-to-market/a-new-model-for-evaluating-and-purchasing-antimicrobials-in-the-uk. Last accessed: February 2026.
  9. Hillock NT, Cheng A, Bowskill A. Do policies that allow access to unregistered antimicrobials address the unmet need? Australia as a case study of a high-income country with universal healthcare. JAC Antimicrob Resist. 2025 Feb 27;7(1):dlae216. doi: 10.1093/jacamr/dlae216. 
  10. Global AMR R&D Hub and WHO. Incentivising the development of new antibacterial treatments:  Progress report 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/2021-dha-docs/incentivising-development-of-new-antibacterial-treatments-2023---exec-summary.pdf.  Last accessed: February 2026.
  11. Australian Government. Antimicrobial Resistance. Available at: https://www.amr.gov.au/about-amr/amr-australia/human-health.   Last accessed: February 2026.
  12. World Health Organization. Antimicrobial resistance – Fact sheet. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance.  Last accessed: February 2026.